Finally Online Banks Are Highlighting Low Rates At Money Center Banks

One of the most amazing things over the last years has been the huge difference between interest that could be earned from savings and CDs in online banks as compared with that earned at the major brick-and-mortar banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citibank to name a few). Equally amazing has been the fact that few in the mainstream media have noted this difference. Still more incredible, until recently, even the online banks have been somewhat reluctant to aggressively highlight the fact that the major money center banks are still giving the public 0.01% or 0.06%.

Online sites, such as BestCashCow and RatesAndInfo.com, have, of course, religiously listed the online banking rates, but even they have been relatively unable to generate much excitement about earning larger returns on your cash in online banks as other assets (equities) have appreciated much more quickly. (These sites also cover brick-and-mortar rates and since some of the smaller banks are competitive, there is a hesitancy to paint all brick-and-mortar banks with the same brush).

But, even as rates are rising, some people are simply unwilling to make the effort to move their money away for the major money center banks. The most amazing thing about all this is that the far better income earned online is absolutely as safe and as protected by FDIC insurance as interest at brick-and-mortar places. There is, in other words, absolutely no reason whatsoever, for one to park cash in anything other than the online highest paying banks.

Finally, the online banks, themselves, have realized their incredible competitive advantage and are just beginning to shout about it from the rooftops.

As an example, this morning wrapped around my copy of the New York Times, delivered to my doorstep, was a huge (2x1 foot), slick advertisement by a major online bank announcing:

THE BIGGEST BANK HEIST IN HISTORY IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT UNDER

YOUR NOSE. IT’S PAYBACK TIME.

BANKS HAVE BEEN KEEPING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF YOUR INTEREST.

MOVE YOUR MONEY TO AN ONLINE SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND START

GETTING THE INTEREST YOU DESERVE.

So, it’s about time. It’s actually a wake up call to all of us that old habits can make us loose big money.